When is Winter in Kanazawa? What to do and see?

I was born in Winter of Kanazawa city in Ishikawa Prefecture. Personally, I recommend you to visit in Winter in Kanazawa as it is most beautiful season to see “Yukizuri （雪吊り）”sceanic in Kenron-en and some Japanese gardens in Ishikawa Prefecture.

In this article, I would like to summarize weather, speciality food/event in Winter Kanazawa.

When is Winter in Kanazawa ?

The Winter Soltsis is Tohji （冬至）in Japan. It is the 21st of December, 2016 and the sun rise will be 7:02 am and the sunset will be 4:42 pm in Kanazawa on Tohji.

A chilly breeze starts to blow from October. And I would say Winter in Kanazawa is between December and March as there might be snow fall during this season.

Winter Samurai district in Kanazawa city

What is the weather like in Kanazawa ?

Temperature and feeling temperature

For instance, the average temperature of the Winter Kanazawa is 5.3 ℃/ – 14.8 °F and January and February would be 3.8℃/ -15.6°F. these months are colder than December and March.

Especially,the humidity in Hokuriku area, like Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui prefecture is quite higher percentage than the other region in Japan. In kanazawa, average humidity of Winter is 72 % so you fell about 10 ℃/ 50°F more colder than real.

What is the speciality food in Winter ?

There are so many food, especially seafood would be the best season to eat in Winter in Hokuriku region … For example in Kanazawa, you won’t to miss like crab, yellow tail , sweet shrimp （called ‘Ama-ebi’ 甘エビ）and a kind of lanternbellies（Nodo-guro のど黒).

sweet shrimp （Ama-ebi/ 甘エビ）Sashimi or Sushi

yellow tail （Buri /ブリ）Sashimi

Simply grilled Nodo-guro is the best （のど黒塩焼き）

All these delicious foods are the best to eat only in Kanazawa/ Ishikawa prefecture. You can easily to try them at any Kaiten-sushi （回転寿司）or Izakaya （ restaurant pub 居酒屋).

Special things to do/ see in Winter

Yukizuri （ 雪吊り）start from Novwmber in Kenroku-en

Because of the high humidity, snow is wet and heavy thus gardener has a special techniques to protect trees in Kanazawa.

That is called” Yukizuri （雪吊り）” They start to put ropes from the beginning of November until mid-March every year. When we see the trees with ” Yukizuri （雪吊り）” we feel Winter has coming as it is such a seasonal tradition.

In Kenroku-en, they do illuminated / admission- free event in each season.

Winter event in Kenroku-en

Free admission during night time with illumination

【DATE & HOURS 】

① Fri. 18th November ～ Sat. 10th. December. 2016 / 17:30 -21:00

② Fri. 27th January. 2017 〜 Sat. 4th. Feb. 2017 / 17:30 -21:00

③ Fri.17th. March.2017〜 Sun.19th.March.2017/ 18:30- 21:00

Free admission during day time

【DATE ＆ HOURS 】

① Public holiday/Thu. 3rd. November. 2016 / 8:00 -17:00

② Sat. 31st. December. 2016 – 3rd. January.2017/ 8:00- 17:00

Winter Kenroku-en

Conclusion

Winter in Kanazawa is very pretty however so cold. If you want to see snowy Kenroku-en, I recommend you to visit in January or February for sure * it depends on the year though